Banal tries to move closer to dream world title bout

World title hopeful AJ Banal stakes his seven-match winning streak against Canadian Tyson Cave three weeks from now in the featured main event of ‘Pinoy Pride 7: Battle at Mactan’ at the newly-constructed Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. The 22-year-old Banal, a Bukidnon native but is now based in Cebu City, makes his ring return on July 30 where he will face Cave in a 12-round bout for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia-Pacific 118-lb title belt. Banal (24-1 with 19 knockouts) has not dropped a match since suffering a 10th-round KO loss to former world title challenger Rafael Concepcion on July 26, 2008. He is also fresh from a second-round technical knockout win over Tanzania’s Francis Miyeyusho . A public sparring session was held last week as a promotional hype for the 12-round bantamweight bout, which is being promoted by Cebu-based ALA Boxing Promotions. Banal sparred with Mark Acub for two rounds. Michael Domingo opposite Gil Melligen, Lorenzo Villanueva against Mark Bernaldez, James Bacon versus Eusebio Baluarte and Albert Pagara against Marjhon Yap were the other fighters that sparred for two rounds. Jun “Flash" Intor, a crowd favorite, was also featured in the sparring session when he faced Crispin Parba. Brothers Arjan and Ryan Canillas sparred against Welbeth Loberanis and Zaldy Aroa, respectively. – JVP, GMA News